Free The Untamable Rogue by Cathy McAllister

its servants and extensive lands, yet I wondered what it would be like to simply give all of that up to live a simple life. My greedy uncle would be very happy to hear that, and it was precisely that thought that pulled me back down to earth. – No! I would not simply hand over my inheritance to this scrounger! Never! As happy as I felt here with these simple-living people, my place was elsewhere. I was the mistress of Blue Hall and I had a responsibility to all the people to whom my family’s estate and businesses had given work and a place to live. This here was not my life.
    As romantic as it seemed to me at the moment, the Sinti had hardly any rights and they were often accused of things that they had not committed simply because they were
gypsies
.
Through Sergio I had by now learnt enough to recognise the negative side of the apparently free life. No, this was not my place. Blue Hall was my home and I would not simply give up the estate and the businesses that my father had worked so hard for. However, for as long as I could not avail myself of my inheritance, I would enjoy the hospitality of the Sinti, and once I was in possession of my wealth I would show my gratitude for the help that these people had bestowed upon me.
    “Are you dreaming, girl?” Grandmother Aneta’s voice pulled me from my ruminations.
    Guiltily I looked up into the old woman’s wrinkled face. I got up and straightened out my skirts, embarrassed.
    “I’m sorry, Grandmother, I was just thinking about … my home.”
    I suddenly had a lump in my throat and a few tears rolled over my cheeks.
    Grandmother Aneta bent down and felt for the herbs that I had collected in my basket. She took a little out and held it to her nose. Her expression brightened as she breathed in the aromatic smell.
    “Ah, you’ve found some. – Sage is very rare in this area. Too little sun. Did you leave some there so that it can multiply?”
    “Yes, I did. A third, as you told me.”
    “Well done, my child. Now come, we still need comfrey and I know where we can find some.”
    *
    We walked along the bank of the stream and crossed it at a level spot where two large, flat stones in the water made it possible to cross safely – importantly, they were dry to step on. Grandmother Aneta seemed to know the spot very well as her feet found the stones with no problem and in three confident steps she was on the other bank. I walked behind her with the basket. On this side of the stream the land rose steeply for a good six feet. The slope was covered in blackberries and undergrowth, but there was a trodden path to the top. I was amazed at how light-footedly the old, blind woman climbed the rise.
    “We have to go to the group of trees over there,” said Grandmother Aneta when we reached the top.
    I looked to where she was pointing. It was still quite some distance away, the ground was rising and it was a little rough. I admired the stamina that Grandmother Aneta possessed despite her great age. She really was a tough person equipped with a resolute spirit.
    “Come on, girl. We don’t want to dawdle,” said the old woman, and I had to smile. Yes, she was an incredible person!
    When we had gone a little way Grandmother Aneta suddenly groaned and held her hand to her chest.
    “What’s wrong with you, Grandmother?” I asked, worried. The exertion had clearly been too much for her after all.
    “My old heart, child. Let me rest here a while. Go to the group of trees and there you’ll find comfrey, a plant with big, long, hairy leaves. Dig out a few of the black roots but don’t damage the rest, and fill in the hole that you dig afterwards. Do you understand?”
    “Yes, Grandmother. I’ll fetch the roots. Rest here a little. – But can I really leave you here alone?”
    I did not have a good feeling and I was very worried. I liked the old lady and I would miss her dearly if she …
    I could not bear to think about it.
    “Perhaps, another time, we should …” I